Forward facing sensing system for vehicle

ABSTRACT

A forward facing sensing system includes a windshield electronics module configured to be attached at and behind a windshield of a vehicle. A radar sensor device and an image sensor are disposed in the module so as to have a sensing/viewing direction forward of the vehicle with the module attached at and behind the windshield. A control includes an image processor that processes image data captured by the image sensor and that analyzes captured image data to detect an object present forward of the vehicle. The detected object is also sensed by a beam of the radar sensor device. The control, responsive at least in part to processing by the image processor of captured image data to detect the object and to sensing by the radar sensor device of the detected object, determines that a potentially hazardous condition may exist in the path of forward travel of the vehicle.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/107,624, filed Dec. 16, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,140,789, which is adivisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/656,975, filed Oct.22, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,614,640, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/540,856, filed Jul. 3, 2012, now U.S.Pat. No. 8,294,608, which is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/192,525, filed Jul. 28, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,217,830,which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/524,446,filed Jul. 24, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,013,780, which is a 371application of PCT Application No. PCT/US2008/051833, filed Jan. 24,2008, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No.60/886,568, filed Jan. 25, 2007, which are incorporated herein byreference for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to forward facing sensingsystems and, more particularly, to forward facing sensing systemsutilizing a radar sensor device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to provide a radar (radio detection and ranging) system(such as a 77 GHz radar or other suitable frequency radar) on a vehiclefor sensing the area forward of a vehicle, such as for an adaptivecruise control (ACC) system or an ACC stop and go system or the like. Itis also known to provide a lidar (laser imaging detection and ranging)system for sensing the area forward of a vehicle for similarapplications. Typically, the radar system is preferred for such vehicleapplications because of its ability to detect better than the lidarsystem in fog or other inclement weather conditions.

Typically, such radar sensor devices are often located at the frontgrille of the vehicle and thus may be intrusive to the underhoodpackaging of the vehicle and the exterior styling of the vehicle.Although it is known to provide a lidar sensing device or system at thewindshield for scanning/detecting through the windshield, radar systemsare typically not suitable for such applications, since they typicallyare not suitable for viewing through glass, such as through the vehiclewindshield (because the glass windshield may substantially attenuate theradar performance or ability to detect objects forward of the vehicle).It is also known to augment such a radar or lidar system with a forwardfacing camera or image sensor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a forward facing sensing system fordetecting objects forward of the vehicle (such as for use with or inconjunction with an adaptive cruise control system or other objectdetection system or the like), with a radar sensor device being locatedbehind, and transmitting through [typically, transmitting at at leastabout 20 GHz frequency (such as 24 GHz) and more preferably at leastabout 60 GHz frequency (such as 60 GHz or 77 GHz or 79 GHz orthereabouts)], a radar transmitting portion established at the upperwindshield area of the vehicle. The radar sensor device is positioned ata recess or pocket or opening formed at and along the upper edge of thewindshield so as to have a forward transmitting and receiving directionfor radar electromagnetic waves that is not through the glass panels ofthe windshield. The vehicle or sensing system preferably includes asealing or cover element, such as a plastic cover element at the sensingdevice to seal/environmentally protect the radar sensor device withinthe cabin of the vehicle while allowing for transmission of and receiptof radar frequency electromagnetic radiation waves to and from theexterior of the vehicle.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a forward facingsensing system or radar sensing system for a vehicle includes a radarsensor device disposed at a pocket or recess or opening established atan upper edge of the vehicle windshield and having a forwardtransmitting and receiving direction that is not through the windshield.A cover panel is disposed at the radar sensor device and issubstantially sealed at the vehicle windshield at or near the pocket atthe upper edge of the vehicle windshield. The cover panel comprises amaterial that is substantially transmissive to radar frequencyelectromagnetic radiation waves. The radar sensor device transmits andreceives radar frequency electromagnetic radiation waves that transmitthrough the cover panel. The system includes a control that isresponsive to an output of the radar sensor device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a forward facingsensing system for a vehicle includes a radar sensor device operable todetect an object ahead of the vehicle, a forward facing image sensorhaving a forward field of view, and a control responsive to an output ofthe radar sensor device and responsive to an output of the forwardfacing image sensor. The control is operable to control sensing by theradar sensor device and the control is operable to control a focused orenhanced interrogation of a detected object (or area at which a detectedobject is detected) in response to a detection of an object forward ofthe vehicle by the radar sensor device. The control may be operable toat least one of (a) control enhanced interrogation of a detected objectby the radar sensor device in response to the forward facing imagesensor detecting an object (such as by enhancing the interrogation via abeam aiming or beam selection technique, such as by digital beam formingin a phased array antenna system or such as by digital beam steering orthe like), and (b) control enhanced interrogation of a detected objectby the forward facing image sensor in response to the radar sensordevice detecting an object (such as by enhancing the interrogation viaenhanced or intensified algorithmic processing of a portion of the imageplane of the image sensor that is spatially related to the location ofthe detected object in the forward field of view of the image sensor).The control thus may be responsive to the forward facing image sensor toguide or control the focused interrogation of the detected object by theradar sensor device, or the control may be responsive to the radarsensor device to guide or control the focused or enhanced interrogationof the detected object by the forward facing image sensor (such as viadirecting or controlling the image sensor and/or its field of view orzoom function or via image processing of the captured image data, suchas by providing enhanced processing of the area at which the object isdetected).

Optionally, and desirably, the forward facing image sensor and the radarsensor device may be commonly established on a semiconductor substrate.Optionally, the semiconductor substrate may comprise one of (i) agermanium substrate, (ii) a gallium arsenide substrate, and (iii) asilicon germanium substrate.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of thepresent invention will become apparent upon review of the followingspecification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle incorporating a forward facingradar sensing system in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a windshield and radar sensing system ofthe present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depictedtherein, a sensing system or forward facing sensing system or radarsensing system 10 for a vehicle 12 includes a radar sensor device 14 atan upper region of the vehicle windshield 12 a and with a forwardtransmitting and sensing direction forward of the vehicle and in theforward direction of travel of the vehicle (FIG. 1). The windshieldglass 12 a may be formed with a cutout or pocket 12 b at the upper edge.The pocket may be cut from the glass (so as to provide a cut opening atthe upper edge of the glass windshield) or the glass may be formed withan inward bulge or pocket that provides an opening for the sensingdevice. The radar sensor device 14 thus may be disposed at the pocket 12b and may have a clear or unobstructed view or sensing direction forwardof the vehicle that does not pass through glass (and whereby the glasswindshield will not attenuate the performance of the radar sensordevice). Because the upper region of the vehicle windshield is typicallynot used, the radar sensor device 14 may be disposed thereat withoutbeing intrusive of other systems or elements and without adverselyaffecting the vehicle design and/or layout. The sensing system 10 isoperable to detect objects or vehicles or the like in front of thevehicle as the vehicle is traveling along a road, such as in conjunctionwith an adaptive cruise control system or the like. Although shown anddescribed as being a forward facing sensing system, aspects of thepresent invention may be suitable for other sensing systems, such as arearward facing sensing system or the like.

Radar sensor device 14 thus may be disposed within a windshieldelectronics module 16 or accessory module or overhead console of thevehicle, and within the vehicle cabin, without experiencing the adverseperformance caused by the attenuation of radio or radar frequencyelectromagnetic radiation wave transmission through the windshieldglass. Optionally, the vehicle sheet metal may be adapted to receiveand/or support the radar sensor device at the upper edge of thewindshield, or to accommodate the radar sensor device as disposed inand/or supported by the windshield electronics module or the like.

In order to seal the upper edge of the windshield at the pocket 12 b, acover element or plate 18 may be provided that substantially or entirelyspans the opening at the pocket and that is sealed at the glasswindshield and vehicle around the perimeter of the pocket, so as tolimit or substantially preclude water intrusion or the like into thevehicle at the radar sensor device. The cover element 18 preferablycomprises a plastic or polymeric or polycarbonate material that istransmissive to radar waves so as to limit or substantially preclude anadverse effect on the performance of the radar sensor device and system.Optionally, and desirably, the cover element may be colored to match orsubstantially match the shade band along the upper region of thewindshield or to match or substantially match the windshield electronicsmodule or other interior or exterior component of the vehicle. Becausethe radar sensor device does not require a transparent cover, the coverelement may be opaque or substantially opaque and/or may function tosubstantially camouflage or render covert the sensor device and/or thewindshield electronics module or the like.

The radar sensor device may utilize known transmitting and receivingtechnology and may utilize a sweeping beam or a phased array or the likefor scanning or sensing or interrogating the area in front of thevehicle. Optionally, the forward facing radar sensing system may includeor may be associated with a forward facing camera or imaging sensor 20(which may be disposed at or in the windshield electronics module oraccessory module or overhead console or at another accessory module orwindshield electronics module or at the interior rearview mirrorassembly 22 or the like), which has a forward field of view in theforward direction of travel of the vehicle. The sensing system mayfunction to perform a “sweep” of the area in front of the vehicle and ifan object or the like is detected (e.g., the radar sensing systemdetects a “blip”), the radar sensor device and system may hone in on orfocus on or further interrogate the region where the object is detectedand may perform a more focused or enhanced interrogation of the area atwhich the object was detected to determine if the object is an object ofinterest. Optionally, for example, the system may control enhancedinterrogation of a detected object by the radar sensor device (such as abeam aiming or beam selection technique, such as by digital beam formingin a phased array antenna system or such as by digital beam steering).Such enhanced interrogation by the radar sensor device may be inresponse to the forward facing image sensor detecting an object in itsforward field of view.

Optionally, and desirably, the forward facing camera may guide orinitiate or control the more focused interrogation of the suspectedobject of interest (such as further or enhanced interrogation by thecamera and imaging system) in response to the initial detection by theradar sensing system. For example, the radar sensing system mayinitially detect an object and the forward facing camera may be directedtoward the detected object or otherwise controlled or processed tofurther interrogate the detected object (or area at which the object isdetected) via the camera and image processing, or, alternately, theforward facing camera may initially detect an object and the system mayselect or aim a radar beam in a direction of a detected object. Theenhanced interrogation of the object area by the forward facing cameramay be accomplished via control of the camera's field of view or degreeof zoom [for example, the camera may zoom into the area (via adjustmentof a lens of the camera to enlarge an area of the field of view forenhanced processing) at which the object is detected] or via control ofthe image processing techniques. For example, the image processor mayprovide enhanced processing of the captured image data at the area orzone at which the object is detected, such as by enhanced or intensifiedalgorithmic processing of a portion of the image plane of the imagesensor that is spatially related to the location of the detected objectin the forward field of view of the image sensor, such as by enhancedprocessing of pixel outputs of pixels within a zone or sub-array of apixelated imaging array sensor, such as by utilizing aspects of theimaging systems described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,123,168; 7,038,577;7,004,606; 6,690,268; 6,396,397; 5,550,677; 5,670,935; 5,796,094;5,877,897; and 6,498,620, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/239,980, filed Sep. 30, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,881,496; and/orSer. No. 11/315,675, filed Dec. 22, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,720,580,which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

Thus, the sensing system of the present invention provides forcooperation or collaboration between the radar sensor device and theforward facing camera or image sensor in a way that benefits or enhancesthe sensing capabilities of the forward facing sensing system. Thesensing system may thus operate with reduced processing until an objectis initially detected, and then may provide further processing todetermine if the object is an object of interest to the forward facingsensing system.

Optionally, and desirably, the radar sensor device and forward facingcamera may be commonly established on a semiconductor substrate, such asa substrate comprising a germanium substrate, a gallium arsenidesubstrate or a silicon germanium substrate or the like. The substratemay include or may incorporate at least some of the control circuitryfor the radar sensor device and camera and/or may include or incorporatecommon circuitry for the radar sensor device and camera.

Because the radar sensor device and camera may be disposed on a commonsubstrate and/or may be disposed within a windshield electronics moduleor the like, the forward facing sensing system may be removablyinstalled at the vehicle and may be removed therefrom, such as forservice or replacement. Thus, the sensing system (including the radarsensor device and camera) may comprise a self-contained unit or systemthat is disposed at the upper region of the windshield. Optionally, theradar sensor device and/or camera may be disposed within a windshieldelectronics module or the like, such as by utilizing aspects of themodules described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/958,087, filedOct. 4, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,188,963; and/or Ser. No. 11/201,661,filed Aug. 11, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,480,149, and/or U.S. Pat. Nos.7,004,593; 6,824,281; 6,690,268; 6,250,148; 6,341,523; 6,593,565;6,428,172; 6,501,387; 6,329,925; and 6,326,613, and/or in PCTApplication No. PCT/US03/40611, filed Dec. 19, 2003 and published Jul.15, 2004 as International Publication No. WO 2004/058540, and/or Irelandpat. applications, Ser. No. S2004/0614, filed Sep. 15, 2004; Ser. No.S2004/0838, filed Dec. 14, 2004; and Ser. No. S2004/0840, filed Dec. 15,2004, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

Optionally, the mirror assembly and/or windshield electronics module mayinclude or incorporate a display, such as a static display, such as astatic video display screen (such as a display utilizing aspects of thedisplays described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,530,240 and/or 6,329,925, whichare hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, or adisplay-on-demand or transflective type display or other displayutilizing aspects of the displays described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,690,268;5,668,663 and/or 5,724,187, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/054,633, filed Jan. 22, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,195,381; Ser. No.11/021,065, filed Dec. 23, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,255,451; Ser. No.10/528,269, filed Mar. 17, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,274,501; Ser. No.10/533,762, filed May 4, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,184,190; Ser. No.10/538,724, filed Jun. 13, 2005 and published on Mar. 9, 2006 as U.S.Publication No. US 2006/0050018; Ser. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14,2005 and published Mar. 23, 2006 as U.S. Publication No. US2006/0061008; Ser. No. 10/993,302, filed Nov. 19, 2004, now U.S. Pat.No. 7,338,177; and/or Ser. No. 11/284,543, filed Nov. 22, 2005, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,370,983, and/or PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2006/018567,filed May 15, 2006 and published Nov. 23, 2006 as InternationalPublication No. WO 2006/124682; and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US2006/042718, filed Oct. 31, 2006, published May 10, 2007 asInternational Publication No. WO 07/053710; and U.S. provisionalapplications, Ser. No. 60/836,219, filed Aug. 8, 2006; Ser. No.60/759,992, filed Jan. 18, 2006; and Ser. No. 60/732,245, filed Nov. 1,2005, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US03/40611, filed Dec. 19, 2003,and published Jul. 15, 2004 as International Publication No. WO2004/058540, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties). Alternately, the display screen may comprise adisplay (such as a backlit LCD video display) that is movable to extendfrom the mirror casing when activated, such as a slide-out display ofthe types described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/538,724,filed Jun. 13, 2005 and published on Mar. 9, 2006 as U.S. PublicationNo. US 2006/0050018; and/or Ser. No. 11/284,543, filed Nov. 22, 2005,now U.S. Pat. No. 7,370,983, and/or PCT Patent Application No.PCT/US2006/018567, filed May 15, 2006 and published Nov. 23, 2006 asInternational Publication No. WO 2006/124682; and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US2006/042718, filed Oct. 31, 2006, and published May 10, 2007 asInternational Publication No. WO 07/053710; and U.S. provisionalapplications, Ser. No. 60/836,219, filed Aug. 8, 2006; Ser. No.60/759,992, filed Jan. 18, 2006; and Ser. No. 60/732,245, filed Nov. 1,2005, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties. Optionally, and preferably, the display is episodicallyextended and/or actuated, such as to display driving instructions to thedriver as the vehicle approaches a waypoint or turn along the selectedroute, and then retracted after the vehicle has passed the waypoint andcontinues along the selected route.

Optionally, the display on the video screen may be operable to displayan alert to the driver of a potential hazardous condition detected aheadof or in the forward path of the vehicle. For example, an output of aforward-viewing active night vision system incorporating an imagingsensor or camera device and near-IR floodlighting (such as thosedescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,877,897 and U.S. patent application Ser.No. 11/651,726, filed Jan. 10, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,311,406, whichare hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties), or anoutput of another suitable forward facing sensor or system such apassive far-IR thermal imaging night vision sensor/camera, may beprocessed by an image processor, such as, for example, an EyeQ™ imageprocessing chip available from Mobileye Vision Technologies Ltd. ofJerusalem, Israel. Such image processors include object detectionsoftware (such as the types described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,038,577; and/orSer. No. 11/315,675, filed Dec. 22, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,720,580,which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties),and they analyze image data to detect objects. The image processor orcontrol may determine if a potentially hazardous condition (such as anobject or vehicle or person or deer or the like) may exist in thevehicle path and may provide an alert signal (such as by actuation of avisual indicator or an audible indicator or by an enhancement/overlay ona video display screen that is showing a video image to the driver ofwhat the night vision sensor/camera is seeing) to prompt/alert thedriver of a potential hazard (such as a deer or a pedestrian or a fallenrock or the like) as needed or appropriate. The display thus may providean episodal alert so that the driver's attention is drawn to the displayalert only when there is a potential hazard detected. Such a systemavoids the driver from having to look forward out the windshield whileoften looking to or watching a monitor running a video of the camera'soutput, which is not particularly consumer-friendly and simply loads thedriver with yet another task.

Optionally, the mirror reflective element of the mirror assembly maycomprise a prismatic mirror reflector or an electrically variablereflectance mirror reflector, such as an electro-optic reflectiveelement assembly or cell, such as an electrochromic reflective elementassembly or cell. For example, the rearview mirror assembly may comprisean electro-optic or electrochromic reflective element or cell, such asan electrochromic mirror assembly and electrochromic reflective elementutilizing principles disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos.6,690,268; 5,140,455; 5,151,816; 6,178,034; 6,154,306; 6,002,544;5,567,360; 5,525,264; 5,610,756; 5,406,414; 5,253,109; 5,076,673;5,073,012; 5,117,346; 5,724,187; 5,668,663; 5,910,854; 5,142,407;4,824,221; 5,818,636; 6,166,847; 6,111,685; 6,392,783; 6,710,906;6,798,556; 6,554,843; 6,420,036; 5,142,406; 5,442,478; and/or 4,712,879,and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/054,633, filed Jan. 22, 2002,now U.S. Pat. No. 7,195,381; Ser. No. 11/021,065, filed Dec. 23, 2004,now U.S. Pat. No. 7,255,451; Ser. No. 10/528,269, filed Mar. 17, 2005,now U.S. Pat. No. 7,274,501; Ser. No. 10/533,762, filed May 4, 2005, nowU.S. Pat. No. 7,184,190; Ser. No. 10/538,724, filed Jun. 13, 2005, andpublished on Mar. 9, 2006 as U.S. Publication No. US 2006/0050018; Ser.No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005 and published Mar. 23, 2006 as U.S.Publication No. US 2006/0061008; Ser. No. 10/993,302, filed Nov. 19,2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,338,177; and/or Ser. No. 11/284,543, filedNov. 22, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,370,983, and/or International Pat.Publication Nos. WO 2004/098953, published Nov. 18, 2004; WO2004/042457, published May 21, 2004; WO 2003/084780, published Oct. 16,2003; and/or WO 2004/026633, published Apr. 1, 2004, which are allhereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, and/or suchas disclosed in the following publications: N. R. Lynam, “ElectrochromicAutomotive Day/Night Mirrors”, SAE Technical Paper Series 870636 (1987);N. R. Lynam, “Smart Windows for Automobiles”, SAE Technical Paper Series900419 (1990); N. R. Lynam and A. Agrawal, “Automotive Applications ofChromogenic Materials”, Large Area Chromogenics: Materials and Devicesfor Transmittance Control, C. M. Lampert and C. G. Granquist, EDS.,Optical Engineering Press, Wash. (1990), which are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, and preferably, the mirror reflective element may comprise aframeless reflective element, such as by utilizing aspects of thereflective elements described in PCT Application No. PCT/US2006/018567,filed May 15, 2006 and published Nov. 23, 2006 as InternationalPublication No. WO2006/124682; PCT Application No. PCT/US2004/015424,filed May 18, 2004 and published on Dec. 2, 2004, as InternationalPublication No. WO 2004/103772; and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/140,396, filed May 27, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,360,932; Ser. No.11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005, and published Mar. 23, 2006 as U.S.Publication No. US 2006/0061008; Ser. No. 11/021,065, filed Dec. 23,2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,255,451; Ser. No. 10/528,269, filed Mar. 17,2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,274,501; Ser. No. 10/533,762, filed May 4,2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,184,190; and/or Ser. No. 10/538,724, filedJun. 13, 2005, and published on Mar. 9, 2006 as U.S. Publication No. US2006/0050018, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties. Optionally, the reflective element may include a metallicperimeter band around the perimeter of the reflective element, such asby utilizing aspects of the reflective elements described in PCTApplication No. PCT/US2006/018567, filed May 15, 2006 and published Nov.23, 2006 as International Publication No. WO 2006/124682; PCTApplication No. PCT/US03/29776, filed Sep. 19, 2003 and published Apr.1, 2004 as International Publication No. WO 2004/026633; and/or PCTApplication No. PCT/US03/35381, filed Nov. 5, 2003 and published May 21,2004 as International Publication No. WO 2004/042457; and/or U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/021,065, filed Dec. 23, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No.7,255,451; and/or Ser. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005 and publishedMar. 23, 2006 as U.S. Publication No. US 2006/0061008, which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties. The framelessreflective element thus is aesthetically pleasing to a person viewingthe mirror assembly, since the reflective element (as recessed orpartially recessed in the opening of the bezel portion of the mirrorcasing) does not include a separate frame or bezel portion around itsperimeter edge. The metallic perimeter band may be selected to have adesired color or tint to match or contrast a color scheme or the like ofthe vehicle, such as described in PCT Application No. PCT/US2006/018567,filed May 15, 2006 and published Nov. 23, 2006 as InternationalPublication No. WO 2006/124682; and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US2004/015424, filed May 18, 2004 and published Dec. 2, 2004 asInternational Publication No. WO 2004/103772, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, use of an elemental semiconductor mirror, such as a siliconmetal mirror, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,286,965; 6,196,688;5,535,056; 5,751,489; and 6,065,840, and/or in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/993,302, filed Nov. 19, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,338,177,which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties, can be advantageous because such elemental semiconductormirrors (such as can be formed by depositing a thin film of silicon) canbe greater than 50 percent reflecting in the photopic (SAE J964ameasured), while being also substantially transmitting of light (up to20 percent or even more). Such silicon mirrors also have the advantageof being able to be deposited onto a flat glass substrate and to be bentinto a curved (such as a convex or aspheric) curvature, which is alsoadvantageous since many passenger-side exterior rearview mirrors arebent or curved.

Optionally, the mirror assembly may comprise a prismatic mirrorassembly, such as a prismatic mirror assembly utilizing aspectsdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,318,870; 6,598,980; 5,327,288; 4,948,242;4,826,289; 4,436,371; and 4,435,042; and PCT Application No.PCT/US04/015424, filed May 18, 2004 and published Dec. 2, 2004 asInternational Publication No. WO 2004/103772; and U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/933,842, filed Sep. 3, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No.7,249,860, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties. Optionally, the prismatic reflective element may comprise aconventional prismatic reflective element or prism, or may comprise aprismatic reflective element of the types described in PCT ApplicationNo. PCT/US03/29776, filed Sep. 19, 2003 and published Apr. 1, 2004 asInternational Publication No. WO 2004/026633; and/or U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/709,434, filed May 5, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No.7,420,756; Ser. No. 10/933,842, filed Sep. 3, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No.7,249,860; Ser. No. 11/021,065, filed Dec. 23, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No.7,255,451; Ser. No. 10/528,269, filed Mar. 17, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No.7,274,501; and/or Ser. No. 10/993,302, filed Nov. 19, 2004, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,338,177, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2004/015424, filedMay 18, 2004 and published Dec. 2, 2004 as International Publication No.WO 2004/103772, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties, without affecting the scope of the present invention.

Optionally, the reflective element may comprise a bent, wide-anglemirror reflector rather than a flat mirror reflector. If a bent,wide-angle mirror reflector is used, it is preferable that the mirrorreflector comprise a glass substrate coated with a bendable reflectorcoating (such as of silicon as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,065,840;5,959,792; 5,535,056 and 5,751,489, which are hereby incorporated byreference herein in their entireties.

Optionally, the mirror casing and/or windshield electronics module maybe suitable for supporting larger or heavier components or circuitrythat otherwise may not have been suitable for mounting or locating at orin a mirror casing. For example, the mirror casing or module may houseor support a battery or power pack for various electronic features orcomponents, and/or may support a docking station for docking and/orholding a cellular telephone or hand-held personal data device or thelike, such as by utilizing aspects of the systems described in U.S. Pat.No. 6,824,281, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US03/40611, filed Dec. 19,2003 and published Jul. 15, 2004 as International Publication No. WO2004/058540, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/510,813, filedAug. 23, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,306,276, and/or U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/842,328, filed Aug. 21, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No.7,722,199, and Ser. No. 11/861,904, filed Sep. 26, 2007, now U.S. Pat.No. 7,937,667, and/or U.S. provisional application, Ser. No. 60/839,446,filed Aug. 23, 2006; Ser. No. 60/879,619, filed Jan. 10, 2007; Ser. No.Ser. No. 60/850,700, filed Oct. 10, 2006; and/or Ser. No. 60/847,502,filed Sep. 27, 2006, which are hereby incorporated herein by referencein their entireties.

Optionally, the mirror assembly and/or windshield electronics module mayinclude or incorporate a navigation device that may include navigationalcircuitry and a GPS antenna to determine the geographical location ofthe vehicle and to provide routes to targeted or selected destinations,such as by utilizing aspects of known navigational devices and/or thedevices of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,862,594; 4,937,945;5,131,154; 5,255,442; 5,632,092; 5,798,688; 5,971,552; 5,924,212;6,243,003; 6,278,377; 6,420,975; 6,946,978; 6,477,464; 6,678,614; and/or7,004,593, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/645,762, filedAug. 20, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,167,796; Ser. No. 10/529,715, filedMar. 30, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,657,052; Ser. No. 10/538,724, filedJun. 13, 2005 and published Mar. 9, 2006 as U.S. Publication No.2006/0050018; Ser. No. 11/861,904, filed Sep. 26, 2007, now U.S. Pat.No. 7,937,667; and/or Ser. No. 10/964,512, filed Oct. 13, 2004, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,308,341, and/or U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No.60/879,619, filed Jan. 10, 2007; Ser. No. Ser. No. 60/850,700, filedOct. 10, 2006; and/or Ser. No. 60/847,502, filed Sep. 27, 2006, whichare all hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.Optionally, the mirror or navigation device may include a microphone,whereby the mirror or navigation device may provide voice activatedcontrol of the navigation device.

Optionally, for example, the mounting structure and/or mirror casingand/or windshield electronics module may support compass sensors, suchas compass sensors of the types described in may utilize aspects of thecompass systems described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/305,637, filed Dec. 16, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,329,013; Ser. No.10/352,691, filed Jan. 28, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,922,902; Ser. No.11/284,543, filed Nov. 22, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,370,983; Ser. No.11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005, and published on Mar. 23, 2006 as U.S.Publication No. 2006/0061008; and/or Ser. No. 10/933,842, filed Sep. 3,2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,249,860; and/or U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,004,593;4,546,551; 5,699,044; 4,953,305; 5,576,687; 5,632,092; 5,677,851;5,708,410; 5,737,226; 5,802,727; 5,878,370; 6,087,953; 6,173,508;6,222,460; 6,513,252; and 6,642,851, and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US2004/015424, filed May 18, 2004 and published Dec. 2, 2004 asInternational Publication No. WO 2004/103772, and/or European patentapplication, published Oct. 11, 2000 under Publication No. EP 0 1043566,which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties. The compass circuitry may include the compass sensor, suchas a magneto-responsive sensor, such as a magneto-resistive sensor, suchas the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,255,442; 5,632,092;5,802,727; 6,173,501; 6,427,349; and 6,513,252 (which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties), amagneto-capacitive sensor, a Hall-effect sensor, such as the typesdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,278,271; 5,942,895 and 6,184,679 (whichare hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties), amagneto-inductive sensor, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,370(which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), amagneto-impedance sensor, such as the types described in PCT PublicationNo. WO 2004/076971, published Sep. 10, 2004 (which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety), or a flux-gate sensoror the like, and/or may comprise a compass chip, such as described inU.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005, andpublished on Mar. 23, 2006 as U.S. Publication No. 2006/0061008; and/orSer. No. 11/284,543, filed Nov. 22, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,370,983,which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.By positioning the compass sensors at a fixed location, furtherprocessing and calibration of the sensors to accommodate adjustment ormovement of the sensors is not necessary.

Optionally, the mounting structure and/or mirror casing and/orwindshield electronics module may support one or more imaging sensors orcameras, and may fixedly support them with the cameras set with adesired or appropriate forward and/or rearward field of view. Forexample, the camera may be operable in conjunction with a forward facingimaging system, such as a rain sensing system, such as described in U.S.Pat. Nos. 6,968,736; 6,806,452; 6,516,664; 6,353,392; 6,313,454;6,250,148; 6,341,523; and 6,824,281, and in U.S. patent application Ser.No. 10/958,087, filed Oct. 4, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,188,963; and/orSer. No. 11/201,661, filed Aug. 11, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,480,149,which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties. The mounting structure and/or mirror casing may be pressedor loaded against the interior surface of the windshield to position orlocate the image sensor in close proximity to the windshield and/or tooptically couple the image sensor at the windshield. The mountingstructure and/or mirror casing may include an aperture or apertures atits forward facing or mounting surface and the windshield may includeapertures through the opaque frit layer (typically disposed at a mirrormounting location of a windshield) or the windshield may not includesuch a frit layer, depending on the particular application.

Optionally, the image sensor may be operable in conjunction with aforward or rearward vision system, such as an automatic headlamp controlsystem and/or a lane departure warning system or object detection systemand/or other forward vision or imaging systems, such as imaging orvision systems of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,038,577;7,005,974; 7,004,606; 6,690,268; 6,946,978; 6,757,109; 6,717,610;6,396,397; 6,201,642; 6,353,392; 6,313,454; 5,550,677; 5,670,935;5,796,094; 5,715,093; 5,877,897; 6,097,023; and 6,498,620, and/or U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/441,341, filed Nov. 16, 1999, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,339,149; Ser. No. 10/422,512, filed Apr. 24, 2003, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,123,168; Ser. No. 11/239,980, filed Sep. 30, 2005, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,881,496; Ser. No. 11/672,070, filed Feb. 7, 2007, now U.S.Pat. No. 8,698,894; and/or Ser. No. 11/315,675, filed Dec. 22, 2005, nowU.S. Pat. No. 7,720,580, and/or U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No.60/628,709, filed Nov. 17, 2004; Ser. No. 60/614,644, filed Sep. 30,2004; Ser. No. 60/618,686, filed Oct. 14, 2004; Ser. No. 60/731,183,filed Oct. 28, 2005; and/or Ser. No. 60/765,797, filed Feb. 7, 2006,and/or International PCT Application No. PCT/US2006/041709, filed Oct.27, 2006, and published May 10, 2007 as International Publication No. WO07/053404, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties. The mirror casing thus may support one or more rearwardfacing imaging sensors or cameras, such as for rearward vision orimaging systems, such as for a rear vision system or back up aid of thetypes described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,717,610 and/or 6,201,642 (which arehereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties), and/or acabin monitoring system or baby view system of the types described inU.S. Pat. No. 6,690,268 (which is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety), and/or the like.

Optionally, the fixed mounting structure and/or mirror casing and/orwindshield electronics module may house or support a display device,such as a heads up display device (such as the types described in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 11/105,757, filed Apr. 14, 2005, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,526,103; and Ser. No. 11/029,695, filed Jan. 5, 2005, nowU.S. Pat. No. 7,253,723, which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties) that is operable to project a display atthe area in front of the driver to enhance viewing of the displayinformation without adversely affecting the driver's forward field ofview. For example, the mirror casing may support a heads up display(HUD), such as a MicroHUD™ head-up display system available fromMicroVision Inc. of Bothell, Wash., and/or such as a HUD that utilizesaspects described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/105,757, filedApr. 14, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,526,103; and Ser. No. 11/029,695,filed Jan. 5, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,253,723, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties. For example,MicroVision's MicroHUD™ combines a MEMS-based micro display with anoptical package of lenses and mirrors to achieve a compacthigh-performance HUD module that reflects a virtual image off thewindscreen that appears to the driver to be close to the front of thecar. This laser-scanning display can outperform many miniature flatpanel LCD display screens because it can be clearly viewed in thebrightest conditions and also dimmed to the very low brightness levelsrequired for safe night-time driving. For example, such a display devicemay be located at or in the mirror casing/mounting structure/windshieldelectronics module and may be non-movably mounted at the mirror casingor mounting structure or windshield electronics module, and may beoperable to project the display information at the windshield of thevehicle so as to be readily viewed by the driver of the vehicle in thedriver's forward field of view.

The mounting structure and/or mirror casing and/or windshieldelectronics module may be fixedly attached to or supported at thevehicle windshield and may extend upward toward the headliner of thevehicle. Thus, the mirror assembly of the present invention may haveenhanced wire management and may substantially conceal the wiring of theelectronic components/accessories between the circuitry within themirror casing and the headliner at the upper portion of the vehiclewindshield. Optionally, the mirror assembly may include wire managementelements, such as the types described in U.S. patent application Ser.No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14, 2005, and published Mar. 23, 2006 as U.S.Publication No. 2006/0061008; and/or Ser. No. 11/584,697, filed Oct. 20,2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,510,287; and/or U.S. provisional application,Ser. No. Ser. No. 60/729,430, filed Oct. 21, 2005, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties, to conceal thewires extending between an upper portion of the mirror casing and thevehicle headliner (or overhead console). Optionally, the mirror casingand/or mounting structure and/or windshield electronics module may abutthe headliner and/or may be an extension of an overhead console of thevehicle (such as by utilizing aspects described in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/538,724, filed Jun. 13, 2005 and published Mar.9, 2006 as U.S. Publication No. 2006/0050018, and/or U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/510,813, filed Aug. 23, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No.7,306,276, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties). The mirror assembly of the present invention thus may allowfor utilization of the area above the mirror reflective element foradditional mirror content, such as additional electronic accessories orcircuitry, and thus may provide for or accommodate additional mirrorcontent/circuitry and/or vehicle content/circuitry.

Optionally, the mirror assembly and/or reflective element assembly mayinclude one or more displays, such as for the accessories or circuitrydescribed herein. The displays may comprise any suitable display, suchas displays of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,530,240 and/or6,329,925, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties, or may be display-on-demand or transflective type displaysor other displays, such as the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos.6,690,268; 5,668,663 and/or 5,724,187, and/or U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/054,633, filed Jan. 22, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,195,381;Ser. No. 11/021,065, filed Dec. 23, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,255,451;Ser. No. 10/528,269, filed Mar. 17, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,274,501;Ser. No. 10/533,762, filed May 4, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,184,190;Ser. No. 10/538,724, filed Jun. 13, 2005 and published Mar. 9, 2006 asU.S. Publication No. 2006/0050018; Ser. No. 11/226,628, filed Sep. 14,2005 and published Mar. 23, 2006 as U.S. Publication No. 2006/0061008;Ser. No. 10/993,302, filed Nov. 19, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,338,177;and/or Ser. No. 11/284,543, filed Nov. 22, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No.7,370,983, and/or PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2006/018567, filedMay 15, 2006 and published Nov. 23, 2006 as International PublicationNo. WO 2006/124682; and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US2006/042718, filedOct. 31, 2006, and published May 10, 2007 as International PublicationNo. WO 07/053710; and/or U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No.60/836,219, filed Aug. 8, 2006; Ser. No. 60/759,992, filed Jan. 18,2006; and Ser. No. 60/732,245, filed Nov. 1, 2005, and/or PCTApplication No. PCT/US03/40611, filed Dec. 19, 2003 and published Jul.15, 2004 as International Publication No. WO 2004/058540, which are allhereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, or mayinclude or incorporate video displays or the like, such as the typesdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,690,268 and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US03/40611, filed Dec. 19, 2003 and published Jul. 15, 2004 asInternational Publication No. WO 2004/058540, U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/538,724, filed Jun. 13, 2005, and published Mar. 9, 2006 asU.S. Publication No. 2006/0050018; and/or Ser. No. 11/284,543, filedNov. 22, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,370,983, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Optionally, themirror assembly may include a video display that is selectivelypositionable, such as extendable/retractable or pivotable or foldable soas to be selectively positioned at a side or below the mirror casingwhen in use and storable within or at least partially within the mirrorcasing when not in use. The display may automatically extend/pivot tothe in-use position in response to an actuating event, such as when thevehicle is shifted into its reverse gear for a rear vision system orback up aid.

Such a video mirror display (or other display) may be associated with arearward facing camera at a rear of the vehicle and having a rearwardfield of view, such as at the license plate holder of the vehicle or ata rear trim portion (such as described in U.S. patent application Ser.No. 11/672,070, filed Feb. 7, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,698,894, andU.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/765,797, filed Feb. 7, 2006,which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). Theimage data captured by the rearward facing camera may be communicated tothe control or video display at the rearview mirror assembly (orelsewhere in the vehicle, such as at an overhead console or accessorymodule or the like) via any suitable communication means or protocol.For example, the image data may be communicated via a fiber optic cableor a twisted pair of wires, or may be communicated wirelessly, such asvia a BLUETOOTH® communication link or protocol or the like, or may besuperimposed on a power line, such as a 12 volt power line of thevehicle, such as by utilizing aspects of the systems described in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 11/239,980, filed Sep. 30, 2005, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,881,496, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference inits entirety.

Optionally, the mirror assembly may include one or more user inputs forcontrolling or activating/deactivating one or more electricalaccessories or devices of or associated with the mirror assembly. Forexample, the mirror assembly may comprise any type of switches orbuttons, such as touch or proximity sensing switches, such as touch orproximity switches of the types described in PCT Application No.PCT/US03/40611, filed Dec. 19, 2003 and published Jul. 15, 2004 asInternational Publication No. WO 2004/058540; and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US2004/015424, filed May 18, 2004 and published Dec. 2, 2004 asInternational Publication No. WO 2004/103772, and/or U.S. Pat. Nos.6,001,486; 6,310,611; 6,320,282; and 6,627,918; and/or U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/021,065, filed Dec. 23, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No.7,255,451; and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/817,874, filedMar. 26, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,224,324; Ser. No. 10/956,749, filedOct. 1, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,446,924; Ser. No. 10/933,842, filedSep. 3, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,249,860; Ser. No. 11/021,065, filedDec. 23, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,255,451; and/or Ser. No. 11/140,396,filed May 27, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,360,932, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties, or the inputs maycomprise other types of buttons or switches, such as those described inU.S. Pat. No. 6,501,387, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/029,695, filed Jan. 5, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,253,723; and/or Ser.No. 11/451,639, filed Jun. 13, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,527,403, whichare hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, or suchas fabric-made position detectors, such as those described in U.S. Pat.Nos. 6,504,531; 6,501,465; 6,492,980; 6,452,479; 6,437,258; and6,369,804, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties. Other types of switches or buttons or inputs or sensors maybe incorporated to provide the desired function, without affecting thescope of the present invention. The manual inputs or user actuatableinputs or actuators may control or adjust or activate/deactivate one ormore accessories or elements or features. For touch sensitive inputs orapplications or switches, the mirror assembly or accessory module orinput may, when activated, provide a positive feedback (such asactivation of an illumination source or the like, or such as via anaudible signal, such as a chime or the like, or a tactile or hapticsignal, or a rumble device or signal or the like) to the user so thatthe user is made aware that the input was successfully activated.

Optionally, the user inputs or buttons may comprise user inputs for agarage door opening system, such as a vehicle based garage door openingsystem of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,023,322; 6,396,408;6,362,771; and 5,798,688, which are hereby incorporated herein byreference in their entireties. The user inputs may also or otherwisefunction to activate and deactivate a display or function or accessory,and/or may activate/deactivate and/or commence a calibration of acompass system of the mirror assembly and/or vehicle. Optionally, theuser inputs may also or otherwise comprise user inputs for a telematicssystem of the vehicle, such as, for example, an ONSTAR® system as foundin General Motors vehicles and/or such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos.4,862,594; 4,937,945; 5,131,154; 5,255,442; 5,632,092; 5,798,688;5,971,552; 5,924,212; 6,243,003; 6,278,377; 6,420,975; 6,946,978;6,477,464; 6,678,614; and/or 7,004,593, and/or U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/645,762, filed Aug. 20, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,167,796;Ser. No. 10/529,715, filed Mar. 30, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,657,052;Ser. No. 10/538,724, filed Jun. 13, 2005 and published Mar. 9, 2006 asU.S. Publication No. 2006/0050018; and/or Ser. No. 10/964,512, filedOct. 13, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,308,341, which are all herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, the display and inputs may be associated with variousaccessories or systems, such as, for example, a tire pressure monitoringsystem or a passenger air bag status or a garage door opening system ora telematics system or any other accessory or system of the mirrorassembly or of the vehicle or of an accessory module or console of thevehicle, such as an accessory module or console of the types describedin U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,877,888; 6,690,268; 6,824,281; 6,672,744; 6,386,742;and 6,124,886, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US03/40611, filed Dec. 19,2003 and published Jul. 15, 2004 as International Publication No. WO2004/058540, and/or PCT Application No. PCT/US04/15424, filed May 18,2004 and published Dec. 2, 2004 as International Publication No. WO2004/103772, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/510,813, filedAug. 23, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,306,276, which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, the mirror assembly or accessory module may fixedly ornon-movably support one or more other accessories or features, such asone or more electrical or electronic devices or accessories. Forexample, illumination sources or lights, such as map reading lights orone or more other lights or illumination sources, such as illuminationsources of the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,690,268; 5,938,321;5,813,745; 5,820,245; 5,673,994; 5,649,756; 5,178,448; 5,671,996;4,646,210; 4,733,336; 4,807,096; 6,042,253; 6,971,775; and/or 5,669,698,and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/054,633, filed Jan. 22, 2002,now U.S. Pat. No. 7,195,381; and/or Ser. No. 10/933,842, filed Sep. 3,2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,249,860, which are hereby incorporated hereinby reference in their entireties, may be included in the mirrorassembly. The illumination sources and/or the circuit board may beconnected to one or more buttons or inputs for activating anddeactivating the illumination sources.

Optionally, the mirror assembly may also or otherwise include otheraccessories, such as microphones, such as analog microphones or digitalmicrophones or the like, such as microphones of the types disclosed inU.S. Pat. Nos. 6,243,003; 6,278,377; and/or 6,420,975, and/or in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/529,715, filed Mar. 30, 2005, now U.S.Pat. No. 7,657,052. Optionally, the mirror assembly may also orotherwise include other accessories, such as a telematics system,speakers, antennas, including global positioning system (GPS) orcellular phone antennas, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,552, acommunication module, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,688, avoice recorder, a blind spot detection and/or indication system, such asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,038,577; 6,882,287; 5,929,786 and/or5,786,772, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/315,675, filedDec. 22, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,720,580; and/or PCT Application No.PCT/US2006/026148, filed Jul. 5, 2006 and published Jan. 11, 2007 asInternational Publication No. WO 2007/005942, transmitters and/orreceivers, such as for a garage door opener or a vehicle door unlockingsystem or the like (such as a remote keyless entry system), a digitalnetwork, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,575, a hands-freephone attachment, an imaging system or components or circuitry ordisplay thereof, such as an imaging and/or display system of the typesdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,690,268 and 6,847,487; and/or U.S.provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/614,644, filed Sep. 30, 2004; Ser.No. 60/618,686, filed Oct. 14, 2004; and/or Ser. No. 60/628,709, filedNov. 17, 2004; and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/105,757, filedApr. 14, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,526,103; Ser. No. 11/334,139, filedJan. 18, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,400,435; and/or Ser. No. 11/239,980,filed Sep. 30, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,881,496, a video device forinternal cabin surveillance (such as for sleep detection or driverdrowsiness detection or the like) and/or video telephone function, suchas disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,760,962 and/or 5,877,897, an occupantdetection system and/or interior cabin monitoring system (such as thetypes described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,019,411 and/or 6,690,268, and/or PCTApplication No. PCT/US2005/042504, filed Nov. 22, 2005 and publishedJun. 1, 2006 as International Publication No. WO 2006/058098 A2; and/orPCT Application No. PCT/US94/01954, filed Feb. 25, 1994, a heatingelement, particularly for an exterior mirror application, such as thetypes described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/334,139, filedJan. 18, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,400,435, a remote keyless entryreceiver, a seat occupancy detector, a remote starter control, a yawsensor, a clock, a carbon monoxide detector, status displays, such asdisplays that display a status of a door of the vehicle, a transmissionselection (4wd/2wd or traction control (TCS) or the like), an antilockbraking system, a road condition (that may warn the driver of icy roadconditions) and/or the like, a trip computer, a tire pressure monitoringsystem (TPMS) receiver (such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,124,647;6,294,989; 6,445,287; 6,472,979; 6,731,205; and/or U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/232,324, filed Sep. 21, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No.7,423,522, and/or an ONSTAR® system and/or any other accessory orcircuitry or the like (with all of the above-referenced U.S. patents andPCT applications and U.S. patent applications and U.S. provisionalapplications being commonly assigned, and with the disclosures of thereferenced U.S. patents and PCT applications and U.S. patentapplications and U.S. provisional applications being hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties).

Changes and modifications to the specifically described embodiments maybe carried out without departing from the principles of the presentinvention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of theappended claims as interpreted according to the principles of patentlaw.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A forward facing sensing system for avehicle, said forward facing sensing system comprising: a windshieldelectronics module configured to be attached at and behind a windshieldof a vehicle equipped with said forward facing sensing system and to beremovable therefrom as a self-contained unit for service or replacement;a radar sensor device disposed in said windshield electronics module soas to have a sensing direction forward of the equipped vehicle with saidwindshield electronics module attached at and behind the vehiclewindshield; an image sensor disposed in said windshield electronicsmodule so as to have a viewing direction forward of the equipped vehiclewith said windshield electronics module attached at and behind thevehicle windshield; wherein said image sensor comprises a pixelatedimage array sensor having a two dimensional array of photosensingelements; a control comprising an image processor; wherein said imageprocessor processes image data captured by said image sensor utilizingobject detection software; wherein said image processor is operable toanalyze image data captured by said image sensor in order to detect anobject present forward of the equipped vehicle in its direction offorward travel; wherein the detected object is also sensed by a beam ofsaid radar sensor device; wherein said beam sweeps forward of theequipped vehicle utilizing digital beam steering; and wherein saidcontrol, responsive at least in part to algorithmic processing by saidimage processor of captured image data to detect the object and tosensing by said radar sensor device of the detected object, determinesthat a potentially hazardous condition may exist in the path of forwardtravel of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said potentially hazardouscondition comprises another vehicle in the path of forward travel of theequipped vehicle.
 2. The sensing system of claim 1, wherein said radarsensor device comprises a phased array antenna.
 3. The sensing system ofclaim 1, wherein said radar sensor device and said image sensor share,at least in part, common circuitry.
 4. The sensing system of claim 1,wherein said control, responsive at least in part to processing by saidimage processor of captured image data and to an output of said radarsensor device, at least in part controls an adaptive cruise controlsystem of the equipped vehicle.
 5. The sensing system of claim 1,wherein said image sensor, with said windshield electronics moduleattached at and behind the vehicle windshield, is proximate to thevehicle windshield.
 6. The sensing system of claim 5, wherein said imagesensor, with said windshield electronics module attached at and behindthe vehicle windshield, optically couples with the vehicle windshield.7. The sensing system of claim 1, wherein said image sensor comprisespart of an automatic headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle andwherein said image sensor comprises part of a lane departure warningsystem of the equipped vehicle.
 8. The sensing system of claim 1,wherein said control, responsive to determination that a potentiallyhazardous condition exists in the path of forward travel of the equippedvehicle, generates an alert.
 9. The sensing system of claim 8, whereinsaid alert comprises at least one of (i) a visual indication displayedon a display screen disposed in the interior cabin of the equippedvehicle and (ii) an overlay on an image displayed on a display screendisposed in the interior cabin of the equipped vehicle.
 10. The sensingsystem of claim 1, wherein the portion of the image plane of said imagesensor that is spatially related to the location of the detected objectin the forward field of view of said image sensor determines, at leastin part, if the detected object is an object of interest to said forwardfacing sensing system.
 11. The sensing system of claim 10, wherein theportion of the image plane of said image sensor that is spatiallyrelated to the location of the detected object in the forward field ofview of said image sensor determines, at least in part, if the detectedobject is an object of interest to said forward facing sensing system.12. A forward facing sensing system for a vehicle, said forward facingsensing system comprising: a windshield electronics module configured tobe attached at and behind a windshield of a vehicle equipped with saidforward facing sensing system and to be removable therefrom as aself-contained unit for service or replacement; a radar sensor devicedisposed in said windshield electronics module so as to have a sensingdirection forward of the equipped vehicle with said windshieldelectronics module attached at and behind the vehicle windshield; animage sensor disposed in said windshield electronics module so as tohave a viewing direction forward of the equipped vehicle with saidwindshield electronics module attached at and behind the vehiclewindshield; wherein said image sensor comprises a pixelated image arraysensor having a two dimensional array of photosensing elements; whereinsaid radar sensor device and said image sensor share, at least in part,common circuitry; a control comprising an image processor; wherein saidimage processor processes image data captured by said image sensorutilizing object detection software; wherein said image sensor comprisespart of a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle; whereinsaid control, responsive at least in part to processing by said imageprocessor of captured image data and to an output of said radar sensordevice, at least in part controls an adaptive cruise control system ofthe equipped vehicle; wherein said image processor is operable toanalyze image data captured by said image sensor in order to detect anobject present forward of the equipped vehicle in its direction offorward travel; wherein the detected object is also sensed by a beam ofsaid radar sensor device; wherein said beam sweeps forward of theequipped vehicle utilizing digital beam steering; and wherein saidcontrol, responsive at least in part to algorithmic processing by saidimage processor of captured image data to detect the object and tosensing by said radar sensor device of the detected object, determinesthat a potentially hazardous condition may exist in the path of forwardtravel of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said potentially hazardouscondition comprises another vehicle in the path of forward travel of theequipped vehicle.
 13. The sensing system of claim 12, wherein saidcontrol, responsive to determination that a potentially hazardouscondition exists in the path of forward travel of the equipped vehicle,generates an alert.
 14. The sensing system of claim 13, wherein saidalert comprises at least one of (i) a visual indication displayed on adisplay screen disposed in the interior cabin of the equipped vehicleand (ii) an overlay on an image displayed on a display screen disposedin the interior cabin of the equipped vehicle.
 15. The sensing system ofclaim 13, wherein said image sensor, with said windshield electronicsmodule attached at and behind the vehicle windshield, is proximate tothe vehicle windshield.
 16. The sensing system of claim 15, wherein saidradar sensor device comprises a phased array antenna.
 17. A forwardfacing sensing system for a vehicle, said forward facing sensing systemcomprising: a windshield electronics module configured to be attached atand behind a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said forward facingsensing system and to be removable therefrom as a self-contained unitfor service or replacement; a radar sensor device disposed in saidwindshield electronics module so as to have a sensing direction forwardof the equipped vehicle with said windshield electronics module attachedat and behind the vehicle windshield; an image sensor disposed in saidwindshield electronics module so as to have a viewing direction forwardof the equipped vehicle with said windshield electronics module attachedat and behind the vehicle windshield; wherein said image sensorcomprises a pixelated image array sensor having a two dimensional arrayof photosensing elements; wherein said radar sensor device and saidimage sensor share, at least in part, common circuitry; a controlcomprising an image processor; wherein said image processor processesimage data captured by said image sensor utilizing object detectionsoftware; wherein said image sensor comprises part of a lane departurewarning system of the equipped vehicle; wherein said image processor isoperable to analyze image data captured by said image sensor in order todetect an object present forward of the equipped vehicle in itsdirection of forward travel; wherein the detected object is also sensedby a beam of said radar sensor device; wherein said beam sweeps forwardof the equipped vehicle utilizing digital beam steering; wherein saidcontrol, responsive at least in part to algorithmic processing by saidimage processor of captured image data to detect the object and tosensing by said radar sensor device of the detected object, determinesthat a potentially hazardous condition may exist in the path of forwardtravel of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said potentially hazardouscondition comprises another vehicle in the path of forward travel of theequipped vehicle; and wherein the portion of the image plane of saidimage sensor that is spatially related to the location of the detectedobject in the forward field of view of said image sensor determines, atleast in part, if the detected object is an object of interest to saidforward facing sensing system.
 18. The sensing system of claim 17,wherein said image sensor comprises part of an automatic headlampcontrol system of the equipped vehicle.
 19. The sensing system of claim18, wherein algorithmic processing by said image processor of image dataat the portion of the image plane of said image sensor that is spatiallyrelated to the location of the detected object in the forward field ofview of said image sensor is enhanced in order to determine if thedetected object is an object of interest to said forward facing sensingsystem.
 20. The sensing system of claim 19, wherein said control,responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor ofcaptured image data and to an output of said radar sensor device, atleast in part controls an adaptive cruise control system of the equippedvehicle.